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Following a high-profile pricing and content library leak on the Reddit forum over the weekend, Netflix has officially detailed the pricing on its three different subscription tiers.
In Australia, customers will pay AU$8.99 for standard definition streaming to a single screen; AU$11.99 for high definition to two screens; and AU$14.99 for up to 4K quality across four different screens.
This pricing is identical to what was posted on Reddit, with the Netflix announcement coming slightly earlier than anticipated, possibly in response to the leak.
The pricing compares quite favourably to the US, where the tiers cost $7.99, $8.99 and $11.99 respectively. The current Australian Dollar to US Dollar exchange rate means the local pricing is actually slightly cheaper than the US — AU$14.99, for example, is worth US$11.68. Netflix will also offer a one-month trial to new users.
The Netflix announcement also confirmed that the third season of the Netflix Original Show “Orange is the New Black” would premiere in Australia on June 12, the same as the US, and the previous two seasons will be available from launch. The service will also be the “exclusive premiere home” for season three of “House of Cards” when it arrives.
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The local rights to both “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black” had previously been held by pay-TV service Foxtel.
From launch, the Netflix app will be available on a wide array of devices, including smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and HiSense; Fetch TV’s second-generation set-top box; gaming consoles PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Wii U; Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones.
Netflix also has a ‘data free’ arrangement with iiNet and while not an official partner, Optus Broadband is offering Netflix as an unmetered service.
The US service enters a competitive Australian market, with local offerings such as Quickflix, Stan and Presto already established. Foxtel is also overhauling its mix of linear broadcast pay TV and on demand content, with the launch of the iQ3 set-top box.
